Operation: A Year Later

We are in the waiting period now (still #8), which is a little strange that we have nothing to fill out or work on right now.  Our next step is either get a match.  Dossier (pronounced:  Doe/ce/ay) is a French word meaning collection of papers...What went into this Dossier that is waiting to be translated as we speak?

Here's a list of all the things we had to do for the Home Study (done locally) and the Dossier:
References:  2 from family members, 2 from friends, 2 from co-workers.
Medicals:  2 medical checks (for home study and dossier) on each of us which consisted of 5 vials of blood, TB tests, eye exam, quick hearing check, & urine samples.
Police Background checks:  Locally (2x with notary) and in several counties in Ohio.
Fingerprints:  Locally AND Federally (for USCIS...New Orleans)
Vital Records- Birth Certificates, Marriage License
Application Letter- A letter to the Republic of China asking permission to adopt.
Financial Statement- Lists all of our assets/liabilities and net worth
Passports:  I needed a new one (it had expired), and Bob needed one.
Home Study: This alone took 5 months.  It is a 16 page document that lists everything about us and our families.
Life Study:  50 questions about each of us
i797-  Approval by the US immigration saying yes we can adopt and details about age, etc.
Photographs:  Passport Photos, Inside of house, outside of house, her room, pictures of us together
Adoption Parenting Classes:  12 hours of classes where we learned about the culture/history of China, attachment, etc.  These classes even taught us what to say when we get asked strange questions.  This is the part I wish I'd remember better (took classes in May).  That's why I have Bob-gle (Google for Jen's).

Now most of this stuff had to be notarized, then sent off to the state to make sure the notarization was legit.  THEN, we had to sent it off to our China Consulate in Houston (NY for Ohio paperwork) to get it authenticated.  They checked to make sure it wasn't too old and no staples were removed, etc.

I tell this story just to have a little history for our child.  Many of these papers were needed regardless of adopting domestically or internationally.

Sometimes God's plan is a little different than what you originally had, but China is where our daughter is.  We just are overjoyed and eager to see her face.  As Bob said, this is an exciting part...how will we get the call, what we be doing, etc.  It is our journey/Operation of how we became a family of 3.  Now we know it will happen in HIS time, but we've been very patient...it's been a year...we are READY to see our little girl's face. 

LID #8---Next Step Match!

 #8

Last week was so exciting!  Not only was our Dossier sent off to China on Monday 12/9/13, but we also had a log in date (LID) of 12/13/13.  Yes Friday the 13th!  I have been telling Bob for over a month that I thought that would be our LID date.  It's Grandma D's LUCKY day!!!!  Woo hoo!

So for those counting, we are in step #8.  We are now eligible to be matched any way that our agency can find!  We are eagerly waiting for this next step.

Give me a D....T...C!!!

We are so excited to be DTC (Dossier to China)!  We have been collecting paperwork for our Dossier since March, and can't believe that our paper baby is on it's way to China.  Once the Holt's Beijing team get the paperwork, they take it to the China Adoption Affairs.  It will get logged in (approximately 2 weeks from today).  This is HUGE, and we can't wait for our LID.  Once LID, we wait and wait for our match. 

For those keeping track, this is #7.  If we get matched soon, we will skip 9 and move to 10 and have to come back to 9.  Please look to the right side bar for the map.

Our Last Thanksgiving as Smith Family of 2...

Bob and I were sitting eating Cheesy Broccoli soup last night (Tiff if you are reading this, I did save you some) when we realized that this (God willing) could be our LAST Thanksgiving with just the 2 of us.  We've had many more of these moments lately.  As I stood in the doorway of our soon-to-be daughter's room, I looked at Bob and said...I'm READY.   Usually what he says (after many MANY years of me saying this) is "Jen, you just need to be patient", but to my surprise he said "Yep, me too".  We knew when we chose international adoption that it would take approximately 18 plus months after we applied, but that doesn't make the wait any easier.  Our story continues...

DOSSIER (aka ton of paperwork) TO AGENCY (DTA):

On Tuesday, we received our last bit of paperwork authenticated from the Chinese Consulate in Houston.  Woo hoo!  Since March, we have collected 13 different documents.  Each one of these documents had to have the notary stamp certified by OH or FL.  Then after that, they had to go to either NY or Houston to the appropriate Chinese Consulate to be authenticated.  We were 13 for 13!  Each document went through the 1st time (this is where my OCD and organizational obsessions have come in handy).  Hmmmm Gram there goes that #13 again (Grandma D's lucky #...we saw it in my seat that I sat in at the USCIS office in New Orleans).  Beyond these 13 documents, we had to have references, photos, etc.  Basically in the adoption world this Dossier is known as your "paper baby", so handing these documents that we have been quite protective of was a little hard, but a bit of relief that we were moving forward. 

The Dossier is off to Holt (along with our US Processing check).

Adoption Yard Sale:

Thanks to EVERYONE for your wonderful support and donations for our Adoption Yard Sale.  We ended up raising approximately $450, which is sitting in our adoption fund ready to go for when we are matched!  This is HUGE and we can't thank you enough.  We had random strangers offering hugs and stories of encouragement.

One SHOCK for those NFL/Browns' fans is that I learned that I had a celebrity of sorts at my sale.  Someone asked me if I remembered selling a chair at the sale.  I had many things donated to sell and this was one of them.  I did remember this sale because I threw in a stuffed animal.  Here come to find out this lady (who bought other things as well) was TRENT RICHARDSON's GRANDMA!!!!!  Yes, EVERYONE is coming out to HELP bring Baby Smith Home!  Too bad he's not on the team anymore.  I blame it on the Shields' curse of buying shirts with people's names on it...(many trades have happened after buying Cleveland Indian's shirts....Carlos Baerga, Kenny Lofton, Jim Thome, and now I guess that Bob has a Trent Richardson Browns' Shirt that he was destined to be traded).

What's next?:

The Dossier will arrive at Holt (our agency) on Monday.  They will review it and contact us with anything we need to add, change or questions they may have.  IF everything looks good, we may possibly have our Dossier to China (DTC) by Friday the 6th.  The BIG date we have been looking forward to is the LID (Log in Date).  This is when China logs our paperwork into their system.  Basically, this is the last thing to be done before we can get a referral (matched with a child) from any of the multiple ways this happens.  Currently, we could only get a referral with a child that is designated to our agency through their partnerships with orphanages.

Keeping Ourselves Busy:

Bob's been learning new songs on the keyboard.  This pieces range from Beatles, Classical pieces, and Peanuts.  I laugh at the range of genres.  He also has been EXTREMELY busy at work.  He's been working a lot, which has been extremely helpful to pay for different paperwork to be processed, etc.  When Bob puts his mind to something, he achieves it!

I'm busy making earrings and necklaces.   www.etsy.com/shop/OperationChinaAdopt
Also, I continue to share my story about Advocare (if interested, let me know) www.advocare.com/130725429.  Plus we are hoping to put another order in this weekend for our Adoption shirts that I helped design.  I'm just a few short to make an order.  Also, check to the side for a Fondue Fundraiser!

Like our page to follow us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/Operationbringbabysmithhome

Shirts cost $18.50 shipped using paypal or order on etsy for multiple orders (SAVE shipping costs).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again for all the support!  It is truly appreciated!  

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Love, 

Bob, Jen & Baby Smith

143 million Orphans--We're Starting with One

i800a Wait:

We are still waiting for the i800a approval from immigration that we are allowed to adopt from China.  Currently the wait for others has been 63-80 days.  We are REALLY hoping to hear something this week, so we can move on with our paperwork.

FUNDRAISING:

This is an extremely costly adventure, but it was a guarantee where other options we had were not.  Bob and I have spent several thousand dollars so far on our Home Study, paperwork (& more paperwork), mailings, passports, USCIS fees, certifications, Adoption classes, etc.  We know that this is what God has called us to do, and we know that this is just part of our journey to save 1 of the 143 million orphans around the world.  We have paid off most of our MAJOR debt in the past year to help us be able to do this.  

If you would like to contribute to our Operation, there are many ways that you can do this.  Spread the word is #1!  We love to hear that others have heard our story and are praying for our journey.  You can also:  Tell people about our Adoption Yard Sale (100% proceeds), think about ordering a t-shirt (40-45% proceeds), share about our Etsy page (50% proceeds/$200 so far), let people know about Advocare (30% proceeds/approximately made $400), or Adopt Together (100%/tax-deductible contribution goes directly to our fund).  

Adoption Yard Sale:

We are super excited that Saturday is our day for our HUGE Yard Sale.  We will take donations up to November 15th!  Our BIGGEST concern right now is making sure people come.  Please share with your friends, church, etc.  We have anything from Video Games to Household items to Clothes.  I will be selling everything VERY cheap. 

Etsy:  

Check us out! We have blankets, earrings, key chains, etc.  I'm always adding more things.

http://etsy.com/shop/OperationChinaAdopt

 

Advocare:

This has been a life style change for Bob and I.  We are so proud of our weight loss, feel great, and have helped SEVERAL others too!  If you want to know more, email me at smithteach05@yahoo.com.  I've lost 20 pounds since I started Advocare July 3rd, 2013.  Since June 2012 when Bob and I started our weight loss journey, I've lost 40 pounds and have went from a size 8/10 to size 2/4!  Bob has lost 55 pounds AND quit smoking July 1, 2013.

Check out my direct site:
https://www.advocare.com/130725429/

 

T-shirt Sales:

As many of you know, we decided on a design for our t-shirts.  We sent out our first order of 25 shirts and made approximately $160 towards our adoption fund!  If you are interested in ordering a shirt with the next order, please email me at smithteach05@yahoo.com or pm me on Facebook.  We hope to place another order next month.

Here they are:

Swoop Shirts ($18 SHIPPED)            Red, Teal, and Gray Swoop Shirts are available in Adults S-3X.

Teal and Gray are available in Youth sizes M-XL.

V-neck shirts ($20 SHIPPED)
Gray available in Adults S-3X.

Hurry Up & Wait

First off, we want to thank EVERYONE for their prayers, warm wishes, and support during our announcement.  We have been super busy continuing to move through this process.  We are in one of the MANY waiting stages in this process.  We are waiting several of our things that we sent off to the state (OH and FL) and now to the Chinese Consulates for authentication in Houston and NY.  We refer to this as our Paper Baby.    

We are also waiting on our i800a approval (approval to adopt from immigration...the reason we had to get our fingerprints done).  Currently, this process is taking others anywhere from 60-70+ days after they received it (our receipt date is 9/9/13).  After the i800a approval, we will have all paperwork ready to go to China, which is known as DTC (dossier to China).  A Dossier is a TON of paperwork that says yes they are who they say they, no they haven't committed any crimes, and YES they are healthy (actually a lot more than that but you get the point).  

Pre-order your Bring Home Baby Smith T-shirts are coming soon!  I'm just deciding on one of my designs. I think we'll use gray shirts.

To keep myself busy, I've been making earrings and fleece blankets.  Here's the links and some sample pics of my work:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/OperationChinaAdopt.  If you live in the Pensacola area, we can make arrangements so we can delete shipping, but message me first before you order.

 

Since many have asked, we can be matched ANY day now.  We are more likely to be matched after we are DTC, which we are hoping that will be by the end of November, beginning of December.   

My favorite conversation, so far, from one of my students on a Monday morning was when a boy came in right after the bell rang, approached me in his BEST whisper voice said..."Were you matched this weekend?"  I told him "No"...he looked sad for me, but I told him "It's okay because Dr. Bob and I need to come up with a lot of money once that happens so it gives us more time to get our girl".  

If you live in the area and would like to donate to our garage sale, please feel free to leave things on our doorstep.  Also I could really use volunteers that would be willing to give out announcements.  I have 100 prints being made and would LOVE it.  We have MANY things.  I'm doing things very cheap and will have drinks, water, and food for purchase.  Also, if you've been thinking about Advocare, I will have information about it.  AND don't forget those cute earrings AND blankets will be there to check out.

Please spread the word about our adoption yard sale on November 16th starts at 8:30am!

Thanks again,

Bob, Jen and Soon-to-be Baby Smith

Our Secret 8 month Operation...

Some call them "Resolutions", well we have referred to it as an "Operation...".  We have made many Operations over our 13 years together (graduating college, finding jobs, change from preschool to elementary school teacher, moving, opening Bob's practice, etc).  The one "Operation" we always had on our list...having a baby, was our most difficult one to date.  For some, this comes easy.  For others, it becomes a wait and see.

When Bob and I first met, we always talked about having children.  It was what we wanted to do.  Me, being the planner, thought when Bob gets his doctorate we relocate for his job and wait a year to have us settle in, then by October the following year we will be pregnant.   I'll have the baby in June and not need to take any time off from teaching.  Well Bob received his doctorate 7 years ago....enough said.

Have you tried (insert here)?  The answer is no.  Bob and I felt the moment that we met that we would always adopt.  We felt that we would want to give a child a family that for no fault of their own didn't have one.    

I've spent most of my adult life helping to make an impact in a child's life some how.  This will be my 16th year teaching full time and 19 years total teaching (adding my 3 years part time at KSU).  I know, I know...I don't look old enough for that but...I am!  

Now that you know the background, let me put you in our house December 24, 2012.  Christmas Eve is a very quiet time when you live 1,000+ miles from your relatives.  I walked into the Coca-Cola room and said to Bob...okay, Operation get us a baby! Let's adopt.  We had been trying for so long that we could see the relief after I finally came to grips.  Bob tells me later that he knew that is what I wanted to do...but was waiting for me to work through my grief and make the decision myself.  

So in true Jen fashion, Christmas Eve was research time!  Only 1 other person knew our plans, because everyone knows that I can't keep a secret (well actually I'm better than most of you knew)!  I requested information from 5 different agencies.  We had NO IDEA about what we were about to embark on.  We knew there were different options (open, closed, domestic, foster-to-adopt, international), but we had NO IDEA what we wanted to do.  Unfortunately for my unknowing parents who came to visit a few days after we formed our "Operation", I was in baby mode...plus I had gotten sick (great combo).  During their visit, I'd have to hide in the room to take a phone call from agency, "go to the bathroom" to read paperwork that had been Fed-ex'd to us, and hide back my tears when my mom bought me a Pandora bracelet with a Purple Zen and Angel charm on them (if only she knew).  

The next 2 months were deciding what route we were to take.  After MUCH research, we decided International adoption.  We had been through enough and couldn't imagine a birth mother changing their mind at the last minute.  Now from where?  We looked into French speaking countries since Bob speaks French.  Can you believe how many countries you have to travel 2-3 times before you bring your child home?  I couldn't picture myself leaving him/her there.  PLUS, Bob couldn't take that much time away from his patients.  

I'll never forget the moment when Holt's folder came into my household.  I jumped up and down and said to Bob...well based on organization alone this one wins hands down.  Did we make the decision then? Nope.  Research continued.  We had narrowed it down to 2 agencies.  We called and talked to a few adoptive parents that we knew.  Boy did that help tremendously!  It was great hearing from others the same concerns and such that we were feeling!  Had they been secretly spying on us.

Well, we made our decision to choose Holt quite easy.  We have always been interested in Asian culture.  Sometimes are decisions are right in front of our face (have you seen our living room...it is decorated in Asian inspired print, collectables) ...China it was!  We had to choose a local agency (since Holt's located in Oregon) to our Home Study.  After that, our application was accepted and we were officially in Holt's China Program mid March.  

We were told from date of application (Feb. 24, 2013) that we should expect to travel approximately 12-18 months from application.   We called and told our immediate families around the end of March (yes, we kept it from all but 2 people for 3 months)!.  We told them to keep it quiet until we had our Home Study approved.

From March through June, we had many things to take care of:  doctors' visits, blood work, police stations, fingerprints, Home Visits, reference letters, baby proofing our house, collecting paperwork, passports, updated drivers' licenses, choosing a preschool (yes we were required to do it) and more paperwork...  

Mom came in June and we announced to her that we will be having....a GIRL!!!!  We are not matched yet, but we feel that a girl will fit into our household perfect.  So...yes there is a baby room that has curtains and is started to be set up.  I had to promise Bob that I wouldn't get a crib and dresser until we are matched. 

During this time of waiting, we decided to get ourselves healthy.  Bob has been smoke-free since July 1st!  We both are very near or at our goal weight!  

After our final home study visit...we waited, and waited, and waited until August 27, 2013 I woke up to go to work.  I woke Bob up and said the approval is coming today...I saw it about 5 times in my dream.  He said sure honey (after almost 3 months of waiting...who can blame him).  After school, STILL no word...my friends, who by now knew because I was checking my phone CONSTANTLY, made me go to the beach for a girls' "night" after work day.  We took a swim in the ocean, when I came back, of course, I checked my phone and the first thing I see is an email with the heading...Home Study approved...I screamed (yes that was me if you were on the beach that day)...thank goodness they all knew what that meant.

Sooooo what does this mean?  We are now waiting to be matched with our baby girl and with extreme circumstances (twins, siblings)...we are approved for 2 children either gender.  Our child will be under the age of 42 months when she comes.  

Do you have a name?  YES....but no we won't tell you.  We will be using part of her Chinese name as her middle name, so we want to make sure it matches.  

What's next?  We are about to send off i800a, which is an application to Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country.  After this, we await to be told when we can have our NEXT set of fingerprints that we must go to New Orleans to get them done.  While all this is going on, we've been collecting an enormous amount of paperwork that will all need to be state certified, then sealed by the Chinese Embassy before it goes to China. 

Our immediate plans?  We are currently working on putting together some fundraisers.  Adoption is expensive.  I became an Advocare distributor to help with some of the costs.  Also, we are planning a garage sale (any donations accepted), t-shirt sale (in the works), and working with adopttogether.org to provide a tax deductible place to receive donations.  I have some keychains (FSU and Gator ones right now) that I am making to sell ($5) and made some shell earrings that Mom has if you are interested in helping out.

So over 8 months later...we are on target for our May-June trip to China.  We will know for sure once we are matched.  

Now wouldn't it be great if we meet our little girl around May 29, 2014...that will be our 10 year wedding anniversary!  

Well, what have you been doing the last 8 months?  Thanks for listening!  We will be posting here with updates as they become available.

Welcome to Operation Bring Baby Smith Home!

Love,

Jen, Bob and Soon-to-be Baby Smith